Internet addiction and the need to waste time

[EvolvingPhoenix]

So I've been noticing lately that even when I'm feeling fine, I have some sort of serious need to keep myself in a mindlessly distracted state on the computer. I don't even particularly enjoy anything I'm watching or looking at, but I can't get away. It's like I feel some sort of deep NEED to be either asleep literally or asleep metaphorically, in this mindlessly distracted state. And I have no idea why. It's pretty common for people to mindlessly distract themselves, but it's like I'm AWARE I'm doing nothing, and I can't pull myself away, even though I'm not really interested in what I'm watching. If I am interested, bonus, but it honestly seems like distraction is the point. And I dunno why it's so difficult for me to stop and go do something productive. Even if there's something else I know I could be doing, it's like I can't stop. I know there's got to be a deeper reason behind this. Maybe I'm trying to distract myself so I don't face some sort of buried feelings I want to suppress? Maybe that's why it's an epidemic of internet addiction and procrastination in the developed world today. Because there's just that many people who are trying to suppress something negative they feel? I'm not certain. Maybe that's not it. Maybe it's something else. I just get the sense there's a deeper reason for this behaviour and I'm not quite sure what it is.

I looked up causes for internet addiction and found this:

"Whenever Internet addicts feel overwhelmed, stressed, depressed, lonely or anxious, they use the Internet to seek solace and escape. Studies from the University of Iowa show that Internet addiction is quite common among males ages 20 to 30 years old who are suffering from depression.

Certain people are predisposed to having a computer or Internet addiction, such as those who suffer from anxiety and depression. Their lack of emotional support means they turn to the Internet to fill this need. There are also those who have a history of other types of addiction, such as addictions to alcohol, drugs, sex and gambling. Even being stressed and unhappy can contribute greatly to the development of a computer or Internet addiction. People who are overly shy and cannot easily relate to their peers are also at a higher risk of developing a computer or Internet addiction."

That sounds about right. I am lonely and depressed. And I do sort of feel a degree of comfort to my loneliness in online forums.

I'm not so sure what to do about it though.  

I looked up an article on how to break internet addiction and this part in particular got my attention:

"Boredom is one of the most painful things any human being can experience.

Why?

Because it’s hard to be alone with yourself or your thoughts.

When untrained, the mind is like a wild dog that won’t stop barking. At its worst, it is like a merciless judge who only seeks to condemn.

In order to hopscotch past the rigorous process of disciplining the mind, many people turn to distraction. Today, this distraction is in the form of social media and Internet addiction."

Maybe that's a big part of it. Not wanting to spend time with my own mind. I admit that being alone is painful for me, and my mind is quite given to painful thoughts. So it would make sense that I would want to be distracted from it.

Does anybody else suffer from internet addiction or some similar addiction based on wasting time? What issues do you notice behind it?